Simming it Up... Glimmer Style! Official Blog

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For our first issue of Sim Review, I bring you VacuumMelon's [URL="http://www.modthesims.info/download.php?t=385300"]"Samantha, the Evil Doll."[/URL] This gorgeous porcelain doll is not as innocent as she seems. She has a dark side and may be seeking revenge on those who have treated her with less than respect. The story behind this sim is just as impressive as the work put into it.

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"She may look cute, but don't let looks deceive you. She's as evil as Mr. Burns."
-[I]VacuumMelon[/I]

Every piece of custom content (minus the hair) was created by VacuumMelon herself. Every item is done so perfectly with great attention to detail.

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She's managed to create a doll like look without over working the sliders in bodyshop. Many attempts at sim dolls have been made and none were this successful. This particular doll especially caught my attention because although she is obviously a doll, she still has a very human quality present... in her eyes. These large doll like eyes just stare at you, not with a blank expression but, with feeling and hurt. My favorite creation on this sim is the skin. I can actually see that she is a doll from the skin alone. I can't say enough how amazed I am with this sim! Thank you VacuumMelon for the sim and the interview...


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[B]1. How long did it take for you to create Samantha?[/B]
About one day, minus occasional coffee breaks.

[B]2. I love your inspiration behind Samantha. Is this how all of your sims usually begin?[/B]
Creating different forms of visual arts is one of my hobbies, so I’m used to gathering inspiration from various places. So the back-story of my creations is always different and often quite random.

[B]3. When checking out your profile I noticed a distinct style present in your sims. Is this intentional? Is this like a watermark for your work?[/B]
I do like to create Sims that have round faces, large eyes and pouty mouths. In other words, they tend to look like dolls, so this kind of look is indeed intentional. What I didn’t know was that it was so obvious to see, haha.

[B]4. What is your favorite thing to create for TS2?[/B]
Eyes. When you look at real people, they all have unique and beautiful eyes. I love that variety and I like my Sims to be easily distinguishable by just looking at their eyes. I also like to create detailed clothing.

[B]5. When did you first start creating custom content for the game?[/B]
My first amateurish attempts date back to the year 2006, when I first learned that The Sims Body Shop existed. I learned what files I had to modify, but I didn’t understand completely why and how the changes occurred. So, for few months I just made some extremely ugly clothes’ recolours and shared them on my personal page. I even wrote some tutorials in my native language Estonian and thousands of people visited my page. It made me so happy.
Then I stopped playing TS2 for some time and I also forgot about Body Shop. I rediscovered it in April 2009. Then I started to work hard to create decent-looking custom content, and haven’t stopped since.

[B]6. Do you intend to expand to Sims 3?[/B]
Actually I already have TS3, but I don’t find it very interesting or captivating. When some more new EPs come out, I may consider switching to TS3, but right now I’m content with TS2.

[B]7. Can you tell us a little about your livejournal, [URL="http://vacuummelon.livejournal.com/"]Catsfield Saga[/URL]?[/B]
This is the first time I’ve tried to record the life of one of my neighbourhoods. I play with different families and write entries about their lives. My writing process is very messy – I play and take pictures, upload them and write captions at the same, so I have some nonsensical sentences and grammar mistakes there. The journal is currently on a hiatus, because I’ve been busy with school, but I’m intending to continue writing when life becomes less frantic.

[B]8. How often do you create?[/B]
I think you should paraphrase your question and ask, [I]how often I create something that is worth sharing?[/I] I usually create something almost every week, but often these things don’t turn out how I’d like them to.

[B]9. What is the average time you spend on a single creation?[/B]
When I create something smaller (e.g. eyes, make-up, clothing), it usually takes me few hours. When I start working on a bigger project (Sim, skin tone, house), then I spend a lot more time – sometimes a day or two, sometimes even few weeks.

[B]10. I love your attention to detail in your work and it's very apparent that you work hard to get every piece right. Is there any advice you can offer anyone about creating custom content?[/B]
Take your time. When you want to create eyes, look at different photos and study them, learn that there are highlights and shadows, small blood vessels and reflections, not just iris and sclera. When you want to create clothing, look at your own clothes; see that there are different stitches, textures, buttons, folds. Details are what bring your creations to life, so you mustn’t underestimate them.
And what’s most important – continue learning and never give up!

[SIZE=4]When you get a chance check out VacuumMelon's [URL="http://vacuummelon.livejournal.com/"]livejournal[/URL] and her [URL="http://www.modthesims.info/member.php?u=2889727"]MTS[/URL] profile! :)[/SIZE]

Magazine Cover by: Athena
Other Sim Photography by: VacuumMelon

NEXT WEEK'S ISSUE: Kree by Cinamun
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